Boy Scouts Create Healing Garden for Mental Health Patients

There's a little more beauty to enjoy at Milwaukee County's Mental Health Complex thanks to members of Wauwatosa Boy Scout Troop #21 and other volunteers. The group spent an entire day renovating a patient courtyard at the facility. The project was the idea of Scout Paul Gagne.

Gagne is a freshman at Wauwatosa East who is in the process of becoming an Eagle Scout. Part of that process is designing and leading a service project. Gagne says he chose to makeover the courtyard because he felt patients deserved a nice place to go to get fresh air. He says the goal was to create a "healing garden" and doctors say patients will definitely benefit. "From the patient's standpoint, sometimes just putting beauty as a part of the environment is part of that healing process," said Dr. Justin Kuehl, a clinical psychologist for Milwaukee County.

Gagne worked with Hawk's Nursery to help design and organize the project. In addition to new trees, plants and flowers, the courtyard also has new benches built by Gagne and his father.

Click here to see more photos of the project.